Multi-functional medical facility with diagnostic, therapeutic and interventional capabilities

Abstract

A multi-functional medical facility permits emergent diagnostic imaging assessment, image guided therapeutic interventions, and open surgical procedures within the complex. The concept of bringing diagnostic and therapeutic imaging and operative equipment to the critically ill patient or the patient undergoing non-emergency, elective surgery, instead of bringing the patient to the equipment is a major clinical advantage that should improve efficiency, outcome and survival. An important economic advantage is that the components can be used separately and independently of each other, thus enabling them to also be used for routine emergency room (ER) work.

1 . A multi-functional medical facility, comprising: 
 an area equipped to provide emergent diagnostic imaging assessment of a patient;    an area equipped to provide image guided therapeutic intervention of the patient; and    an area equipped to provide a surgical procedure of the patient.    
     
     
         2 . The multi-functional medical facility of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a transport mechanism for transporting the patient to each of the areas.    
     
     
         3 . The multi-functional medical facility of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the areas are adjacent to one another.    
     
     
         4 . The multi-functional medical facility of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the area equipped to provide emergent diagnostic imaging assessment includes a CT scanner, MRI scanner, x-ray/angiography device, ultrasound device, and/or other imaging device.    
     
     
         5 . The multi-functional medical facility of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the area equipped to provide image guided therapeutic intervention of the patient includes a CT scanner, MRI scanner, x-ray/angiography device, ultrasound device, and/or other imaging device.    
     
     
         6 . The multi-functional medical facility of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the area equipped to provide a surgical procedure of the patient includes a surgical set-up for an emergency surgery.    
     
     
         7 . The multi-functional medical facility of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the area equipped to provide a surgical procedure of the patient includes a surgical set-up for a non-emergency surgery.    
     
     
         8 . The multi-functional medical facility of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 each of the areas is operating-room compatible.    
     
     
         9 . The multi-functional medical facility of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least one shielded, retractable door arranged to shield radiation from at least one of: (a) the area equipped to provide emergent diagnostic imaging assessment and (b) the area equipped to provide image guided therapeutic intervention of the patient.    
     
     
         10 . A multi-functional medical facility, comprising: 
 a central area equipped to provide at least one of emergent diagnostic imaging assessment of a patient, and image guided therapeutic intervention of the patient; and    a plurality of areas adjacent to the central area that are each equipped to provide a surgical procedure of the patient;    wherein each of the areas is operating-room compatible.